Editing Cultural anthropology (section)

=== Franz Boas, founder of the modern discipline ===
{{main|Boasian anthropology}}
 [[File:FranzBoas.jpg|thumb|right|[[Franz Boas]] (1858–1942), one of the pioneers of modern anthropology, often called the "Father of American Anthropology"]]

[[Franz Boas]] (1858–1942) established academic anthropology in the United States in opposition to Morgan's evolutionary perspective. His approach was empirical, skeptical of overgeneralizations, and eschewed attempts to establish universal laws. For example, Boas studied immigrant children to demonstrate that biological race was not immutable, and that human conduct and behavior resulted from nurture, rather than nature.

Influenced by the German tradition, Boas argued that the world was full of distinct ''cultures,'' rather than societies whose evolution could be measured by the extent of "civilization" they had. He believed that each culture has to be studied in its particularity, and argued that cross-cultural generalizations, like those made in the [[natural science]]s, were not possible.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

In doing so, he fought discrimination against immigrants, blacks, and indigenous peoples of the Americas.<ref>Stocking, George W. (1968) ''Race, Culture, and Evolution: Essays in the history of anthropology''. London: The Free Press.</ref> Many American anthropologists adopted his agenda for social reform, and theories of race continue to be popular subjects for anthropologists today. The so-called "Four Field Approach" has its origins in Boasian Anthropology, dividing the discipline in the four crucial and interrelated fields of sociocultural, biological, linguistic, and archaic anthropology (e.g. archaeology). Anthropology in the United States continues to be deeply influenced by the Boasian tradition, especially its emphasis on culture.

[[File:Margaret Mead (1901-1978).jpg|thumbnail|[[Margaret Mead]] (1901–1978)]]
[[File:Ruth Benedict.jpg|thumb|[[Ruth Benedict]] in 1937]]